A man from Everett, Washington, Lamin Saho, also known as “Buck,” was sentenced to six years in prison for his role as a major fentanyl distributor. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court in Seattle and was announced by U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd.
Saho was identified through a wiretap investigation that led to fourteen arrests in October 2024 and five more in late 2025. The drug trafficking organization operated between Kent and Everett, with two main distribution points located in Seattle’s University District. Many members of the group were armed while handling or distributing drugs. The leader of the organization was killed outside one of these locations during the summer of 2024.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge John H. Chun stated, “Fentanyl is a dangerous drug that has devastated far too many lives. One has only to walk out on the streets of Seattle to see how it has devastated our community.”
U.S. Attorney Floyd commented on Saho’s activities: “Mr. Saho distributed thousands of fentanyl pills – the calls recorded on the wiretap indicated he had access to as many as 10,000 pills at a time,” said U.S. Attorney Floyd. “Each one of those pills had the potential of killing the user. Our community is safer when we are able to prosecute these drug trafficking rings and get the suppliers behind bars.”
April Miller, acting Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle, highlighted law enforcement efforts: “Homeland Security Investigations, working closely with our law enforcement partners, led the investigation that brought Saho to justice and indictments for 18 others,” said HSI Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “Together, we are combatting the lethal effects of fentanyl in our communities by identifying, disrupting, and dismantling dangerous networks. Garnering this sentence for one of the defendants in this case shows our commitment to protecting the public and fighting violent crime at every level.”
Robert A. Saccone from DEA Seattle Field Division added: “Drug trafficking and gun violence go hand in hand, and this case highlights the unfortunate reality, peddling deadly fentanyl and weapons in Seattle’s University District posed a clear and present danger to the entire community,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The collaborative efforts of our federal prosecutors along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners resulted in the dismantlement of this drug trafficking organization and brought us one step closer towards making America Fentanyl Free. DEA is committed to protect the United States from synthetic opioids by disrupting the fentanyl supply chain, reducing its availability, and saving American lives.”
Investigators used telephone intercepts over several weeks which revealed Saho as one of the most active distributors within his group; even after police seized 5,000 pills from him during a traffic stop he continued dealing until authorities ended their surveillance period.
Over a yearlong investigation into this network—which involved multiple agencies—law enforcement confiscated approximately 200,000 fentanyl pills along with four kilograms of cocaine; they also seized sixty firearms (including Glock switches), several suppressors (devices designed to reduce firearm noise), and $250,000 believed connected to drug sales.
Other members received sentences ranging from four years up to ten years depending on their roles:
– Cooper Sherman (“Coop”), considered an organizational leader from Seattle: ten years for conspiracy charges involving fentanyl distribution plus firearm possession.
– Khaliil Ahmed (“Bossup”) from Kent: six years for illegal firearm possession tied to conspiracy.
– Yohannes Wondimagegnehu (“Jon”) from Seattle: six years for conspiracy involving controlled substances plus firearm possession.
– Dominique Sanders from Everett: six years for conspiracy related specifically to distributing fentanyl.
– Jaquan Means from Bellevue: six years for brokering multiple transactions.
– Oche Poston from Everett: five-and-a-half years as a runner aiding transactions.
– Patrick Smith from Seattle: four years as redistributor.
– Anteneh Tesfaye from Edmonds: four years for illegal firearm possession linked with redistribution activity.
After serving his sentence Saho will face four additional years under supervised release but is expected be deported due his lack legal immigration status; he is originally citizen Gambia.
This operation was part Homeland Security Task Force initiative established under Executive Order 14159—an interagency effort aimed at eliminating criminal cartels operating both domestically internationally through coordinated investigations prosecutions across federal agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI , DEA , ATF , US Marshals Service , Postal Inspection Service , IRS-Criminal Investigation , Secret Service , Customs Border Protection , Coast Guard Investigative Service . Prosecution handled by United States Attorney’s Office Western District Washington .
The multi-agency probe included significant participation by local police departments such as those serving Seattle , Bellevue , Everett ; state-level organizations like Washington State Patrol National Guard Gambling Commission ; federal bodies including FDA Customs Border Protection Air Marine Operations Border Patrol ; regional narcotics task forces Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Yakima County L.E.A.D Narcotics Gang Task Force .
Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Jensen Joseph Silvio prosecuted case.
